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Show % WEIR- COSGRIFF A f T Vhomas Weir and Samuel Newhouse seemed destined to be together, at least for a time. They were both born in the state of New York; both were intrigued with mining opportunities in the West where they were associated, first in Leadville, Colorado, then in Bingham Canyon with the beginning of the copper industry there. Both had white pillared homes on the grand boulevard of Brigham Street. Weir was born near Cambridge in 1855 and educated to be a mining and civil engineer. He came west to Leadville, then a boom town, and became associated with Samuel Newhouse. In 1886 he married Clara Pond Treadway in Denver. His arrival in Utah in 1894 was probably at the same time as Newhouse's, because in 1896 the two were reported to have purchased the Highland Boy Mine in Bingham Canyon. Their diverse talents strengthened their , ,. , . TTT . Alan Lister Lovey's cartoons, relationship. Weir published in 1907, depicted . J 1 ^ 1 distinguished Utahns unci remained on home ground their occupations. where his knowledge of engineering was used to advantage; and Newhouse, the promoter, went off to London where he successfully obtained capital for the new venture. This transaction resulted in the organization of the Utah Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited, a British company, with Samuel Newhouse as president and Thomas Weir as general manager. The Weir- Newhouse team was responsible for Bingham's first important shipment of copper ore. It left Highland Boy Mine in December 1896. The following year the two organized the Boston Consolidated Mining Company which was eventually sold to Utah Copper Company. From the beginning of Weir's career in Colorado he had held high positions in the mining field. In Colorado he was assistant manager in the A. Y. Mine, and three years later became general manager of the A. Y. and Minnie Mine. In Montana, where he operated from 1888 to 1893, he became general manager of the Granite Mountain Mining Company. In Utah he was general manager of Highland Boy Mining Company, manager of Boston Consolidated, director of Ohio Copper Company, and president of Ajax Mining Company. Additionally, he was owner and manager of Weir Salt Company, vice- president of Walker Brothers Bank, and a member of the Alta and Commercial clubs of Salt Lake Citv. 48 The home of the Thomas Weirs, occupying a quarter of a block at the corner of " F" Street, was among the stateliest of the many residences that ornamented the street. Two flanking turrets and a roof deck complemented the classically styled entry with its white Corinthian columns that stood out against the yellow sandstone of the grand structure. A red sandstone wall supported an ironwork fence and gate. The carriage house was partly hidden from the gardens by a white lattice fence. The velvety expanse of lawn and beautifully kept surroundings made this one of the most attractive residences in the city. Thomas Welr The house had a total of fifteen rooms, and conveniences considered luxury items of the day were provided for the comfort of the family. The Weir family lived here from 1900 to 1910. The home was then bought and occupied, by 1913 at the latest, by the James E. Cosgriff family who lived there until 1965 when it was purchased by Steiner- American Corporation. The razing of this sixty- five- year- old mansion suddenly shocked the community into an awareness that the architectural legacy it assumed would be permanent was as unsteady as quicksand. 49 lb Jv fames E. Cosgriffwas 1 born in Burlington, _ J Vermont, in 1863 and came west in 1890 to begin his career in the sheep business near Rawlins, Wyoming. He moved to Salt Lake City in 1905, maintaining an interest in the wool- growing industry. During the years from 1908 to 1917 he spent a great deal of money upgrading the industry, even hiring an Australian for ten thousand dollars to teach the wool growers how to prepare wool for the market more efficiently. In 1909 he founded the Continental Bank and Trust Company. James married Mildred Dobson of New York City in 1910 and to them were born two children, Walter and Marian. They were devout Catholics, being active in the affairs of the church and in its welfare projects. They kept alive Judge Memorial High School, the former miners' hospital established by Mrs. John Judge, and financed the James E. Cosgriff Memorial School that was built in Saint Ambrose Parish. These James E. Cosgriff Mildred Dobson Cosgriff 50 Entrance hall during the Cosgriff years suggests preparations were being made for Christmas. 51 December 1965. and other generous contributions and their devotion to the needs of their church won Mr. and Mrs. Cosgriff honors from the pope. Mr. Cosgriff died in 1938, leaving his son to carry on his banking interests. Mrs. Cosgriff died in 1961, the furnishings of the home being sold at auction within a few months after her death. * WEIR- COSGRIFF 505 East South Temple Built 1899- 1900 Architect: Walter E. Ware Owners: Thomas Weir, James E. Cosgriff Demolished 1965 52 |
